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Update from the Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office on the East County burglary investigation:

Last night at approximately 6:45 pm, residents on the 300 block of Monte Elma Road in Brady observed a white or lighter colored Jeep Cherokee pull into their driveway and turn off the headlights. The residents contacted the occupants who claimed to be lost.

When questioned further about who they were looking for or where they were going, the subjects fled the area. The Jeep was further described as being “beat up looking”.

The driver was described as being a white male in his late 20’s to early 30’s with a skinny build and bald/shaved head. There was a white female passenger of about the same age who was described as having a bigger build than the male.

Anyone seeing a vehicle matching this description in that area is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 360-249-3711 or the Grays Harbor Dispatch Center at 360-533-8765.

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Deer and elk hunters have until March 31 to enter their name in a drawing for a 2014 multiple-season permit.

In mid-April, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will randomly draw names for 8,500 multiple-season deer permits and 1,000 multiple-season elk permits.

Winners of the drawing will be eligible to purchase a special tag allowing them to participate in archery, muzzleloader and modern firearm general hunting seasons for deer or elk in 2014. Winners who purchase the multiple-season elk tag by Aug. 31 can participate in general elk-hunting season in both eastern and western Washington.

Winners also may choose any weapon type when applying for a special permit to hunt deer or elk.

“This is a great opportunity for hunters to extend their hunting season this fall,” said Dave Ware, game manager for WDFW. “Rather than having to choose one hunting method over another, hunters drawn for a multiple-season permit who purchase the tag can participate in multiple seasons.”

Ware noted that the tags can be used only during general seasons and in game management units that are open during the general seasons.

A 2014 hunting license is not required to submit an application, but winners of the drawing must purchase one before they can purchase a multiple-season tag.

Hunting licenses and multiple-season tags can be purchased from local license dealers, at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/, or by calling (866) 246-9453.

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This month, Forterra purchased 128 acres of estuarine and forest land on Willapa Bay in Pacific County for permanent conservation.

The property, known as Sunshine Coast, is located near the point where the Naselle River feeds into Willapa Bay and includes one mile of shoreline as well as habitat for elk, deer and other wildlife.

The land purchase was part of a larger effort to protect critical habitat in and around southern Willapa Bay. Sunshine Coast is close to other protected properties including the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge, The Nature Conservancy’s Ellsworth Creek Preserve, and other conserved properties along the lower Naselle River and Chetlo Harbor.

“For the past 10 years, Forterra has worked to conserve and protect estuarine, coastal wetland, and coastal forest properties in and around Willapa Bay, which is one of the most pristine estuaries in the U.S.,” said Mark Johnsen, Forterra Estuary Program Director. “The successful conservation of the Sunshine Coast property helps tie together a mosaic of conserved properties in the Willapa watershed, furthering benefits for wildlife and the ecosystem.”

Since 2010, Forterra has conserved more than 500 acres land in the south Willapa Bay area. The nearby Willapa National Wildlife Refuge contains 15,000 acres of federal protected wildlife habitat, home to elk, bear, many bird species, salmon, and more. Contiguous land conservation amplifies the beneficial impacts on the environment and wildlife.

In a press release, Forterra said that this conservation will help improve water quality by protecting the shoreline and upland buffer. This helps keep the Willapa Bay ecosystem clean, which in turn, helps protect the largest commercial shellfish beds in Washington.

Willapa is one of the five most productive areas in the world for oyster cultivation.

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The Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office tells KXRO that during the last week and a half, there have been four separate Burglaries/Thefts/Vehicle Prowls in the Brady and Satsop area.

On February 18th, the department investigated a burglary in the 100 block of Winkleman Road in Brady when someone broke into the residence and stole several items, including a flat screen TV, computer, and laptop. The victim noticed metals had been taken from around his shop. Investigators eventually developed a suspect of the metal theft and he was located and arrested. It is unknown at this time if he was responsible for the burglary to the home. That investigation is ongoing.

On February 20, the department investigated a burglary in the 1000 block of Monte Elma Road in Satsop when a shed was burglarized and items were taken from the carport including a 10 speed bike, a drill press, and miscellaneous tools. It was believed this crime occurred at night.

On Tuesday of this week, a burglary in the 500 block of Monte Elma Road in Brady occurred as the home owners were away only a few hours mid-day. When they returned home they discovered someone had forcefully entered their home and shop and stole numerous items including a flat screen TV, food, clothing, jewelry, and tools. Due to the extent of theft, detectives were called to assist deputies with this investigation.

On Wednesday of this week, residents in the 500 block of Monte Elma Road in Montesano discovered that someone had stolen the batteries out of their vehicles.

GHSO is asking residents in the area to report any unusual or suspicious activity. Anyone with information on these crimes is asked to call the sheriff’s department at 360-249-3711.

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Approximately 50 people last night heard from the US Army Corps of Engineers about a plan to dredge the Grays Harbor navigational channel an additional 2 feet, and the impacts it may have.

The Corps have proposed deepening the channel in the Harbor from the current -36” down to -38”. According to project lead Josh Jackson, this would allow more opportunity for vessel traffic at the Port of Grays Harbor. This project is not to facilitate new commodities or vessels, only allowing for more traffic as the Port continues to grow.

According to a draft supplemental environmental impact statement, the purpose of the dredging would be to “reduce navigation transportation costs for the existing and projected future traffic” of the Port. The need they say is to open up opportunities. At -36”, and the navigational windows, deep draft vessels coming in have to be partially loaded or experience tidal delays due to the insufficient depth.

In the draft document, the possibilities of crude by rail are factored in, although a separate draft shows little change in the overall benefit of the dredging if crude does not come to Grays Harbor said Colonel Bruce Estok.

The Corps maintains the waterway now by dredging the deep draft channel annually at an average cost of $9 million, removing an average annual volume of about 1.7 million cubic yards of material. By deepening another 2 feet, this would require a one time removal of 1,7,52,000 cubic yards of material and an annual increase of 107,000 cubic yards. The total project costs would be $20,385,000.

During public comments, local oyster farmer Brady Engvall, of Bradys Oysters, spoke out against the dredging, saying that when they originally dredged to -36” he saw damage to local oyster beds, and his fear is that dredging again will have an even larger impact on local growers.

The draft reevaluation report, draft supplemental EIS and appendices are available to review on line at: http://1.usa.gov/MS6jUw or through Seattle District’s website http://www.nws.usace.army.ml by clicking on “Grays Harbor Navigation” under the “Most Requested” column.

The Corps is accepting public comment on the report and EIS until March 24. Once a Final Environmental Impact Statement is available, another 30 day comment period will be available.

An investigation continues into four separate, multi-inmate fights that broke out last week when one inmate was injured. Prison administrators placed all medium and minimum-security units at the prison under lockdown. No staff members were hurt.

The inmate was being treated at the hospital with were called not life-threatening injuries.

The first fight occurred in the day room of a medium-custody unit. A short time later, three other multi-inmate fights occurred; one in the same medium-security unit, one in another medium-security unit; and one in minimum-security.

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Aberdeen Police Detective Jeff Weiss and Hoquiam Police Detective Sergeant Shane Krohn flew down to California this week to pick up the suspect of multiple robberies and bring him back to our area to answer for his local crimes.

Gladden was arrested in March of last year in Fontana, California following a 6 month effort by local police to arrest him for multiple crimes.

The 31 year old former Aberdeen resident was connected to 2012 robberies at Hucklebearies Espresso in Aberdeen, robberies at The Grizz Espresso and TwinStar Credit Union in Hoquiam, as well as connected to an attempt to rob Radio Shack in Aberdeen. His accomplice Melissa Moore was arrested in Arizona in October of 2012.

Gladden was arrested by Fontana Police in March for possession of stolen property, possession of drugs, assault with a deadly weapon, and resisting arrest. Fontana Police held him for his California crimes before he was transferred back to Washington.

Gladden has been booked into Grays Harbor County Jail on 3 Hoquiam warrants for Robbery 1, with bail set at $300,000.